How to Buy Birthstone Engagement Rings

Diamonds are the first gemstones that come to mind when thinking of engagement rings, but have you considered getting down on one knee with a gorgeous birthstone ring instead? This trend attracts couples who want their engagement ring to make a highly personal statement, all about their passion and love for one another.

Shopping for a birthstone engagement ring is a completely different experience than shopping for a diamond ring. Our goal at Brilliance is to make your shopping experience as easy and convenient as possible. That’s why we put together this helpful guide so you can find the perfect birthstone engagement ring.

Find her dream ring with these tips:

Setting A Budget

It’s important to figure out how much you want to spend on a ring before you actually start shopping. A lot of people base their budgets on old-fashioned rules that state people should spend a few months’ salary on an engagement ring. Some of the rules call for people to spend one month’s salary, but others go as high as three months’ salary.

These rules serve as great guidelines, but there’s no reason to feel bound by them. Instead of worrying about breaking the rules, figure out what budget feels right for you. Engagement ring shopping should be a time of excitement and joy, not a time to be worrying about what you’re spending.

Crunch your personal finances to come up with a number that you feel comfortable with. It might be easier to come up with a price range instead of a single budget amount, giving you more wiggle room if you should find the perfect ring. Birthstones are less expensive than diamonds, and there are beautiful rings for every budget.

What’s in a Birthstone?

Choosing a birthstone is the easy part; most couples pick a birthstone that corresponds with the bride-to-be’s birthday.

Not sure what her birthstone is? Here are the birthstones for each month of the year:

January: Garnet

February: Amethyst

March: Aquamarine or Bloodstone

April: Diamond

May: Emerald

June: Pearl, Alexandrite, or Moonstone

July: Ruby

August: Peridot, Sardonyx, or Spinel

September: Sapphire

October: Opal or Tourmaline

November: Topaz or Citrine

December: Tanzanite, Zircon, or Turquoise

If your significant other’s birth month has more than one gemstone, conduct a little bit of research before deciding which one to choose. Different gemstones have their own properties that might make one a more practical choice over another.

For example, there are three birthstones for the month of June. Pearl and moonstone score fairly low on the Moh’s Scale of Hardness, which means that they scratch easily and require more care and upkeep. Alexandrite, on the other hand, has a score of 8.5, which means it’s very durable and resists scratches.

Since this ring will be worn for decades, it’s best to choose a gemstone that will hold up over time. In addition to the gemstone’s hardness, you should also look at prices and availability of each option before making a final decision. And if you know her personal preference (e.g. she was born in August but hates peridot), then take that into account as well. It might be the most important criteria!

Finally, consider going extra-personal and including both of your birthstones in the ring, especially if you’re going with a custom design. If one of you has a fairly neutral birthstone that pairs well with others, such as pearl, diamond, or opal, this is easy to accomplish and it puts a great story behind your ring choice.

What if Her Ideal Gemstone Isn’t Her Birthstone?

You don’t have to limit yourself to her birthstone if there’s another gemstone she’s eyeing up! Sapphires, emeralds, and rubies are three of the most popular gemstones, so women often wear them regardless of what month they were born.

In fact, a number of celebrities wear engagement rings with gemstones that are not their birthstone, including Kate Middleton and Ashlee Simpson. These ladies serve as proof that no rules are set in stone when it comes to finding the right engagement ring.

Be bold and choose the ring that works for her. It’s all about your individuality as a couple!

Finding the Perfect Setting

Finding the right birthstone is only the first step. Now, it’s time to choose the setting. Two pearl engagement rings can look completely different from one another if they’re in different settings and metal types. This is your opportunity to completely personalize this ring and make it her own!

Choosing the Right Metal

The right metal can complement your gemstone and help its brilliance shine, while a sub-par metal choice can keep the ring from looking its best. Looking at the color’s warmth or coolness makes it easy for you to choose the right pairing.

Cool colors such as purple, blue, or green look best in white gold settings, whereas warm colors such as yellow, red, and orange look best in yellow gold. Rubies, pink sapphires, and diamonds also look stunning in rose gold settings. It all comes down to personal preference, so mix and match until you have found a gemstone-metal pairing that you love.

But remember that gold isn’t your only choice! Plenty of couples end up choosing alternative metals for further self-expression. Some favorites include platinum, titanium, and cobalt.

Platinum is ultra-durable with the look of white gold, while titanium is super lightweight and comfortable for women with active lifestyles. Cobalt is an excellent choice for intricate, shaped bands that need a lot of durability, because it’s hard without sacrificing malleability.

Choosing the Perfect Setting

Classic, Modern, or Both?

Many people choose solitaire settings for their classic sophistication. Another popular choice is the halo setting, which is a modern twist on the solitaire setting. Since the halo setting features many small-sized diamonds, it’s a great choice for women who want a ring with plenty of dazzle.

Go Vintage!

Vintage-inspired settings featuring delicate and intricate detailing on the band are also very popular. These vintage-inspired rings are usually set in yellow or rose gold, and they’re an excellent choice for a bride-to-be who loves Victorian aesthetic and timeless touches.

Choose Channel

The channel settingfeatures a row of stones deep-set along the band, and it’s a great choice for showing off an extra-special center gemstone. Despite being super-luxurious, these settings are quite sturdy, because each stone is suspended in an individual “seat” along the channel row.

Bezel Settings

The bezel setting offers modernity and contemporary flair. It’s great for minimalist brides-to-be. The stone is deep-set so that it’s flush with the surface of the band, so you’ve got a hint of glimmer without the drama of a solitaire setting. This setting is extra popular as a men’s engagement ring or for couples who love to break tradition.

There are countless different settings to choose from, so it can be a bit overwhelming to search for the perfect one. You know your significant other better than anyone, so trust your instincts and you should have no problem finding one that suits her perfectly.

Get Insurance

Everyone has a friend with a disastrous engagement story. There’s nothing worse than getting on one knee at her favorite team’s game, ready to pop the question right there at the stadium, only to fumble and lose the ring under the bleachers!

Don’t let that happen to you. Before popping the question, insure the ring, regardless of whether it is worth $200 or $20,000.

Ask your jeweler if they work with or can recommend an insurance company so you can obtain a policy quickly. Whatever you do, choose an insurer who specializes in jewelry. Renter’s and homeowner’s policies may have low caps for jewelry and can be harder to work with in terms of documentation.

When you shop with Brilliance, upon completion of order you have the option to add insurance right on top of your purchase for added convenience. This insurance is through a major company that:

Specializes in jewelry claims so you know they understand the personal importance of your ring

Offers flexible coverage so you can choose the policy that works for you

On average, a policy through Brilliance’s third-party insurer costs 1 to 2 percent of the jewelry’s total price, making it a steal! Don’t delay, make sure you’re thinking about insurance even before you click the “Add to Cart” button.

Start Shopping!

Shopping for the perfect birthstone engagement ring can be a struggle, or it can be completely stress-free. Use a critical eye when considering which retailer to go with for your engagement ring search.

Avoidretailers who don’t specialize in jewelry (e.g. big box department stores), lack certification for their diamonds, sell unethically-sourced gemstones, or have overly stringent policies for returns and guarantees. This type of retailer is only likely to cause a headache!

Choose a retailer that has the buying experience in mind. Look for jewelry expertise, certified diamonds (even if you’re not buying diamonds, certification indicates that the company cares about authenticity), and buyer-friendly shopping policies such as free shipping and easy returns.

Congratulations—you’ve found the perfect birthstone engagement ring for your significant other! You know the next steps: find the perfect moment, get down on one knee, and begin this next adventure together. At Brilliance, we’re all about making memories that last forever. Have questions about your pending purchase? Get in touch with one of our Diamond Experts today.